Scolopendrium
/ˌskɒləˈpɛndriəm/noun
A fern genus traditionally including the hart’s-tongue fern, now generally treated as part of the genus Asplenium.
Did you know?Ancient Greek and Roman writers associated scolopendra with the centipede, while the fern was later used in traditional herbal medicine for ailments including spleen and respiratory complaints.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
σκολόπενδρα (skolópendra)
“Centipede; a many-legged creature whose form inspired the plant’s name”
Ancient Greek
Greek
σκολόπενδρος (skolópendros)
“Centipede-like or resembling a scolopendra”
Classical Latin
Latin
scolopendra
“Centipede; also applied to plants with a similar appearance”
Medieval Latin
Latin
scolopendrium
“A fern or fern-like medicinal plant, named for its resemblance to a centipede”
16th Century
Botanical Latin
Scolopendrium
“A formal plant-genus name used in Renaissance botanical classification”
Modern English
English
scolopendrium
“A botanical name associated especially with the hart’s-tongue fern”
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